Nursing Champ Wins Coveted Award

June 28, 2018

AAHN Member, Claire Chatterton, Staff Tutor in Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at the Open University (OU) in the UK, says receiving a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Award of Merit in recognition of her sterling services to nursing left her "amazed, flattered and humbled".

Her award was presented at a ceremony opening the RCN's annual Congress at Belfast's Waterfront Arena on 12 May. Claire - who was commended for her exceptional contribution to the RCN and the international recognition she has for her nursing history expertise - now joins the RCN Award of Merit Roll of Honour, alongside the great and the good of the nursing world.

She said: "I was amazed, flattered and humbled when I received the letter, I wasn't expecting it at all."

Claire - who joined the OU in 2003 - did not know which of the RCN members nominated her. She does, however, know that her OU line manager, Hasel Daniels, Staff Tutor and Locality Lead, was involved in the nomination process.

Hasel said: "It is great testament to Claire's work. I was very happy to be part of the nomination process."

The general and mental health nurse joined the RCN in 1981 as a student nurse but has worked closely with the body for the last eight years as part of her OU work, including being a member of the RCN North West Board. She is well-known on the nursing circuit, chairs the RCN History of Nursing Society, and is often asked to speak at lectures and conferences. In 2017, she won an award from the University of Virginia for her contributions to nursing history.

Claire was already due to be on the OU exhibition stand promoting the University during RCN Congress- something which she has done for many years - when she received a letter telling her that she would be presented with an award at the opening ceremony. She was under strict instructions to keep the news to herself until the big day, but was pleased to have her OU Northern Ireland colleagues alongside her watching on.

Claire, whose responsibilities include being a cluster manager, module team member and Co-Qualifications Lead, is the first OU staff member to achieve this much-coveted award - the highest honour bestowed by the RCN for service.